My Two Cents
My blog about business, social media, books, life, and what matters.
What Is Freedom Anyway? The truth is that I cry, not because I am some overly idealistic patriot who thinks the United States can do no wrong. Quite the opposite. I love my country like I do many of my friends and family - as a beautiful soul full of potential and talent and also full of faults and mistakes. The United States has been at the forefront of innovation in so many areas. We have birthed millionaires and visionaries, thinkers and leaders, geniuses and servants. We have built arguably the strongest economy in the world, some of the best institutions of higher learning, and many new products and ideas. We now have our first black president. We have been rated the most charitable country in the world. Our military has served with honor and heroism to end the world wars, rescue the innocent, and protect people around the world. We did that. But we also have a horrendous and growing income gap between the rich and poor. We fall farther and farther behind in many metrics of health and education. Corrupt corporate influences on the government lead to unfair legislation. Our Congress is so divided as to shut our government down costing billions of dollars to our people. Our military has been responsible for appalling acts of abuse and inappropriate use of force. Historically alongside a legacy of freedom we have a legacy of oppression and even death. We did that too. Never, Never, Never Giveup So where does this leave me on Veteran's Day. How can I honor all the good and the service of our veterans while still recognizing all the change that still needs to happen? Ironically the military that is supposed to support our individuality and freedom largely does so by stifling the freedom of the troops through policies like don't ask don't tell and religious discrimination in the ranks for Jews, Muslims, and Atheists.
And how do I explain to my children what this day means? They have grown up with a country that has been at war (at least one) since before they were even born until now. What does it mean to live in peace? The questions of how to make the hard life and death decisions required of each leader of the United States is one that I am thankful I don't have to make. There are no easy answers. But in the end, I still hope and believe for a better future. One of hope, and opportunity for everyone. One where each person can create a beautiful life full of joy and giving and contribution. I hope that my children (who are also Canadian as my husband is from Toronto) grow up feeling a little that they are citizens of the world. To me, these are the highest ideals of what we should all stand for. And on Veteran's Day I honor all those willing to fight and give to create a better world for everyone. Wherever you are in the world, never give up. Never give up believing in the tenacity of the human spirit. That better is possible. That love is possible. That peace is possible. I would love to hear your comments - what does Veteran's Day mean for you?
Yes indeed, I actually left our mini-van at the coffee shop and went home forgetting all about it. No, we don't live within walking distance. I had in my head some previous plan that involved my husband dropping me off in the morning so that he could use the car and our employee Karah driving me home after the meeting. We changed that plan. Somewhere thinking about the webinar I had to finalize for that morning and the list of things I had to do and the writing time that somehow needed to fit in I just wanted to get home and forgot everything else. We retrieved the van, everything was fine, we all had a great laugh, and now I can never give my husband a hard time about losing his keys. Ever. Again. Learning to Laugh At Yourself a Hidden Key to Success You are going to do really ridiculous, silly, and even stupid things sometimes. There are all kinds of ways you can minimize that, but that is a subject for another blog post. Regardless, some things will slip through the cracks. When they do, it is how you handle it that will make the difference between success and failure. If you have ever forgotten a deadline for a client, missed an exit when you were already late, forgot to save your files and then lost hours of work, then you know what I am talking about. Here are 3 skills that will allow you to keep going: 1) Learn to laugh at yourself. Today I was laughing so hard I was almost crying. My once-upon-a-time therapist said that I use humor as a coping mechanism to deal with pain. But seriously, if you need to cope, I can't think of a better way. It really will seem funnier after the initial repercussions, so try to see that humor now, it helps. But there are sometimes it really isn't funny. A person got hurt in a real way (sorry, possessions don't count, they can be replaced). That never is a laughing matter. In that case you will have to substitute forgiveness. If your mistake was knowing or intentional then deal with the underlying things that caused you to make that decision so you don't make it again. If it was just an honest mistake, you did the best thing you knew to do at the time given the information you had, then learn, let go, and move on. 2) Be honest It sucks to tell a client that you forgot something. Or admit to yourself that you made a bad judgement call. But without doing that we start to lose faith in ourselves and others do too. This becomes a downward spiral of rationalization and regret that doesn't allow the learning needed for success. Remember, if you keep making the same mistakes you will never get to any higher level of success than you have right now! 3) Fix it When things don't go our way it is easy to feel hopeless. We messed up once, we will mess up again, and we are really just colossal failures (clearly) so why even bother trying? But there is always a way to fix it. Think outside the box for the third, fourth, or one hundredth option if needed. This is not to be flippant, and some things are irrevocable. But even if we figure out how to not let it happen again that is a step. A big one. In the case of the van it was really quite simple. Husband get keys, go to coffee shop, get van, bring it home. Sometimes it will take longer and be harder. As long as you are still alive you still have an opportunity to make things better. What Really Matters - In Business and Life Everything. Doesn't. Matter.
At least not in the same way. A van is a van is a van. Worst case scenario it gets towed for being without an owner. We go get it. Everything is fine. Or I supposed it could be stolen. Or a tree falls on top of it. But regardless, it is just a hunk of metal. When you spend too much time stressing about those things what is really valuable slips through the cracks. The people in your life. Your word and integrity in fulfilling promises. Your mission to the world. Those are the things worth getting worked up about. Those are the things worth treating like your life depends on it. Because those are the things that make life matter. So enough with all the seriousness. Help me feel better here. Let me know the most outrageous thing you ever lost or forgot in the comments.
What Is Around You Doesn't Determine What Is Within You Problem is, this is scary. Once we accept that it is our responsibility to make our own economy great - and not our bosses, family, or political leaders, then it is all up to us. At first, this can feel incredibly isolating. I get it. I know all too well that feeling that you are falling down a deep dark hole and can't grab a hand-hold no matter how much you grasp. Our mind, our greatest resource, is also one of our biggest challenges. We will make all kinds of excuses about what we do or do not have. But the truth is that your mind is limitless. It does not depend on what is outside. There is always one more thing to try, one more avenue to pursue. So you lost that last sale - there are almost 7 billion people in the world you haven't talked to yet. So you are in debt. There are more resources available than you can count, you just have to figure out what you can offer of value to the world. Yes, sometimes sickness, or disaster, or personal tragedy strike. Sometimes there is seemingly no reason. But if you lose one hand, you have the other. Keep. Pushing. Through. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” You Can Start Making the Steps to Change Now So are you ready to change your economy? Where do you want to be by the end of this year? As you are filing your taxes, is your income far below what you would like? Are your charitable contributions smaller than they could be? Then it is time to make a change! One of the best books I have ever read on the subject of changing anything in your life is "Flip the Script" by Bill Wackermann. If you read only one book this month, make this one it. Much more than a feel-good positive thinking book, it goes through the very practical steps needed to deal with your fears, address those that are rational, and do what is needed to stop making excuses and start making headway. But maybe that is too much to try and do right now - right this minute. In the recent Forbes article "How to Improve Your Performance in Life" they writer identified just two things to do that change the outcomes for almost everyone: Prepare for what is coming up, and plan for contingencies. The reality is that in most areas of life the bar is incredibly low. If you can't post 2-3 times per day on your Facebook page, then post at least once. Every day. If you feel overwhelmed by writing a blog post every week, then just do it once a month. Book time in your calendar 15 minutes before any phone call to brush up on who you are talking to, what you are talking about, and make sure you have their phone number in front of you. Little things really add up over time. It is one of the most basic economic principles of all - that of the time value of money and compounding interest. Now apply that everywhere. So what is one little thing more that you can do today to get you closer to your dream economy? I would love to hear it in the comments below! Want more information about changing the economy of YOU? Guy Kawasaki recently posted a link on Facebook to Decker's Top Ten Best and Worst Communicators. Some of these are sure to be remembered for a long, long time ("legitimate rape" anyone?), but yet how many of us work on our communication in any real way?
As we make all of our New Year's Resolutions this year about all the things we want to improve, how about adding communication to that list? It is the one thing that affects every single other area of our lives. It can make the difference between success and failure, being liked or being hated, sharing your message with the world or being ignored. And it is one thing we just can't afford to ignore. And like I always tell my clients, goals mean nothing if they are not SMART. So here are some achievable things you can do to get you on the right track. 1) Join your local Toastmasters Club 2) Add some books to your reading list about communication such as: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Hidden Messages: What Our Words and Actions Are Really Telling Our Children How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleWhat Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People 3) Ask those close to you what your communication strengths and weaknesses are and be ready to listen! 4) Improve your social media habits by creating a consistent routine to build relationships online. What would you add to this list? What other books should be on everyone's reading list this year to improve communication? _*Note: This post was transferred here from an older blog that I was hosting on Posterous.com. the posting date reflects the publish date of the original post.
As a small business, you don't have much time. Keeping up on your blog can be a challenge. And what do you write anyway? Here are my top 5 tips when writing a small business blog. 1) Write what you know. This is the mantra for writing of all kinds, but especially in blogging. One of the biggest mistakes I have seen clients make is to just regurgitate information from other places rather than coming up with their own thoughts. A whole bunch of links with little commentary rarely adds value to your blog. Instead, think about the conversations you are having with customers every day. When have you heard comments like "wow, I never knew that," or "I didn't understand that until talking to you." That is your content! Now just write it. 2) Always, always, ALWAYS proofread. Okay - I know I am asking for it now, and will probably get e-mails detailing all the errors in this post. Still, true is true. There are few things that will take good content and make it seem stupid than sloppy writing, spelling errors, or bad grammar. If you do not feel confident in this area, find a co-worker, employee, friend, or marketing service that does and have them give your work a once over before it goes live. 3) Save good ideas for a rainy day. When you have a good idea for a blog post, write it down immediately. If you have a few minutes, even write out the whole post. If you have already written one for the day it will be available for a day when you just can't think of anything to post. Keeping a buffer of written articles is one of the best ways to stay consistent. 4) Start small. The world of the web is changing. You do not have to be able to commit to a daily 500+ word blog with fantastic graphics and pictures to be able to start blogging. Find a simple platform that you can use, choose a clean look, and try to be regular, even if it is only once a month. Having something will be better than nothing, and you can get comfortable over time and expand as needed. Don't let how big the mountain looks to keep you from taking your first step. 5) Know how and when to ask for help. Blogging can be very personal, which can make a business owner hesitant to ask for help. Whether you are having trouble getting off the ground, staying consistent, or generating enough unique content see what resources are around to help. You may find an employee with hidden writing talents that can help with content. Or a friend who can hold you accountable to writing regularly. Many blogs written by business owners will need professional help at some point in time. After all, the blog is not your business, it is supporting your business. You may need help finding a good platform to start, setting up the original design, writing content, or finding ways to optimize your content to serve your marketing strategy. All these are things a professional internet marketer can help you with to save your precious time and money for what you are best at - running your business. |